Ireland Vs Australia

[Handsome88]

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I don't see any discussions here about the advantages or disadvantages of Ireland over Australia. So I will put forth some questions and info comparing both routes for you!

I know that the match rate for Ireland back in Canada is higher (67% vs. 41%). But why is that, is it just based on the students?

Also, Aussie lets you do North American electives throughout the year in basically any year, unlike Ireland, and does not require you to do electives during the summers like Ireland does.

Costs are relatively equal (Ireland is a little more costly).

More canadian/US students go to Australia than Ireland too (better USMLE prep?)

You might consider the distance between North America and Australia a disadvantage but that does not really matter, does it?

One thing I'm hearing is the "Medical tsunami" in Australia where international students can't get intern spots due to shortages. This however is also starting to happen seriously in Ireland...

So why is Ireland > Australia?

 

[indya]

i'm not extremely knowledgeable about the subject, but it would seem like you should definitely go with whichever has better match rates. 47% for Australia?!? In other words, less than half of the people can't get residencies back in their home country! 4 years and you are stuck.

 

[Handsome88]

i'm not extremely knowledgeable about the subject, but it would seem like you should definitely go with whichever has better match rates. 47% for Australia?!? In other words, less than half of the people can't get residencies back in their home country! 4 years and you are stuck.

My question is: is it the students or the country that causes this 26% difference?

If it is the country then why? What does Ireland have that Aussie doesn't have...from what I can see, Aussie seems like an easier route.

I have an acceptance for a 5 year program in Ireland, and Aussie gives me a 4yr program. Should I waste an extra year in Ireland for the 16%? If Australia=Ireland then why waist a year?

 

[jnuts]

The quality of students may be the difference. If that's the case you still want to be with the better peer group as they will motivate you and remind you to stay on top of things back home. That's me at least, others like the big fish small pond scenario (but I always worry about the little fish colouring people's judgement of the program). The worst of the lot will be the ones contributing to the reputation behind your degree.

I think that familiarity with the Irish program is also huge. For many reasons, the Ireland/UK/Canada axis has been around a lot longer. The big Irish schools are well known back home. That might not be true in Western Canada, but most of the IMG Residency spots are in Ontario and the East. This gap might be attributable to historic immigration patterns; Australia is a lot like Canada, its a country people move to, not generally one you move from.

I also think the lesson with the Elective time is that its' quality not quantity. On paper, Irish students do fewer electives. From the CaRMS results we must be doing something right with the time we have.

It maybe as unsatisfying a reason as a fluke of history but there are just more Irish doctors in Canada. 'Why' is a bit above any student's pay grade. We really can't change policies or the facts. Even if things don't add up on paper you should really look at giving yourself the best shot with the information you have.